Local News
Reduction of the Large Vessel Protection Area (LVPA) in territorial waters “was not a dictatorial thing” but a response by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council to a “desperate plea” from the U.S longliner fleet based in American Samoa already faced with many challenges, says...
NO CLEAR ANSWER ON THE ISSUE OF CIGARETTE SHORTAGE
The supply of popular cigarette brands is almost non-existent, and smokers are having a hard time satisfying the urge for a ‘nicotine fix’.
Since last month, popular brands like Benson and Hedges (Lights and Regular) as well as Kool (long and short...
![Seahawk 68, grounded on the reef. [Photo: US Coast Guard]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_SEAHAWKONE.jpeg?itok=YN2XgdG6 "Seahawk 68, grounded on the reef. [Photo: US Coast Guard]")
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources director Va’amua Henry Sesepasara continues to seek federal funding to help remove a foreign longline fishing vessel grounded off Coconut Point in Nu’uuli almost two years ago.
Va’amua made the revelation at last week’s, three-day, 169th Meeting of the...
![Alamea (crown of thorns starfish) on a coral reef in American Samoa. [photo: National Park Service of American Samoa]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Alamea%20DPP_0061.jpg?itok=BQf5UbAq "Alamea (crown of thorns starfish) on a coral reef in American Samoa. [photo: National Park Service of American Samoa]")
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — Alamea (crown of thorns starfish) is native to American Samoa reefs, but in the last few years have been seen in alarmingly high numbers.
The National Park of American Samoa, along with other agencies including ASG Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and NOAA/...
![Last Saturday night, Spawnbreezie and local musicians joined together in a concert hosted by Bluesky Communications at the Fagatogo Pavilion. It was Spawnbreezie’s first concert on island. The laser light show was also a first for the island. [Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/SpawnbreezieConcert002.jpg?itok=qyapSRTO "Last Saturday night, Spawnbreezie and local musicians joined together in a concert hosted by Bluesky Communications at the Fagatogo Pavilion. It was Spawnbreezie’s first concert on island. The laser light show was also a first for the island. [Courtesy photo]")
The territory's first laser light show was on display this past Saturday during the Spawnbreezie concert hosted by Bluesky Communications at the Fagatogo Pavilion — it was part of the celebration that launched their new 4G Superior Network in the Territory, this past week.
The laser light show was...
![[Courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Aukuso%20Atanoa.jpg?itok=7bsCdbCm "[Courtesy photo]")
The people of American Samoa are being asked to come together and pray for a Toa o Samoa, US Army Private First Class (PFC) Aukuso Kiliona Atanoa Jr.
The 22-year-old soldier from Pago Pago is fighting for his life at the Walter Reed Medical Center, a military hospital facility on the East Coast....
![At 2:30p.m last Friday a container truck [top of photo] went through the container scanner equipment, while another container truck [bottom of photo] waited at the entrance to the Port of Pago Pago for its turn to go through the scanner located at the main dock. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/scanner%20equipment%206703.jpg?itok=1CfBVsY- "At 2:30p.m last Friday a container truck [top of photo] went through the container scanner equipment, while another container truck [bottom of photo] waited at the entrance to the Port of Pago Pago for its turn to go through the scanner located at the main dock. [photo: FS]")
The container scanner fee is set to go into effect early next week, after training of Customs agents, who are charged with manning the equipment, is completed, according to a statement released by the Treasury Department. However, it remains unclear whether the canneries will be exempt from paying...
![[photo: Sylvia Spalding/Council]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Council%20scholarship.jpg?itok=wkAfdAob "[photo: Sylvia Spalding/Council]")
[l-r] Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council member Christinna Lutu-Sanchez, Council scholarship recipient Valentine Vaeoso, Council member and new DMWR director Va’amua Henry Sesepasara with another Council scholarship recipient Faasalafa Kitiona — all from American Samoa — Wednesday...
![A truck with a container, prepares to go through the container scanner at the main dock around 2:30p.m Friday, Mar. 24, 2017 in Pago Pago, American Samoa. ASG Treasury says the container scanning fee of $200 per container of 20 foot and over, goes into effect Apr. 3. [photo: Fili Sagapolutele]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/2container%20scan%206698.jpg?itok=TnPQW9-- "A truck with a container, prepares to go through the container scanner at the main dock around 2:30p.m Friday, Mar. 24, 2017 in Pago Pago, American Samoa. ASG Treasury says the container scanning fee of $200 per container of 20 foot and over, goes into effect Apr. 3. [photo: Fili Sagapolutele]")
The new container scanner fee is set to go into effect Apr. 3, after training completed for Customs agents, who are charged with manning the equipment at the main Port of Pago Pago, as well as a testing period that involved officials from the off island company contacted for the Rapi-Scan project....
![Congresswoman Amata and House Speaker Ryan discuss the need for healthcare reform in the U.S. territories in the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/amata%20n%20ryan.png?itok=462dejGx "Congresswoman Amata and House Speaker Ryan discuss the need for healthcare reform in the U.S. territories in the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. — “Although House leadership has pulled the bill for now it would not have affected American Samoa in the first place,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “Because this is a reconciliation bill, only those provisions included in the 2010 Affordable Care Act can be considered in this...